Hi! So excited to have signed up to be a part of this forum. I am looking for inspiration-something I often lack when it comes to my writing. Also, I find that feedback from fellow writers, and constructive criticism seem to keep me on track with my personally set goals. I have just recently began writing again, and am working on a new piece. I'm thrilled to find the support of a community.
Hello Jordan, Welcome to the Writing Forums. Please read How to Use the Review Room before you post there. Posting your own writing for people to comment on should not be among the very first things you do here. It is worth taking the time to see what other people have done to improve their writing, and see if some of it applies to your writing as well. That is part of why we require members to review other members' work before posting their own for review. On the other hand, there are no restrictions, other than content and copyright rules, on showcasing your work in your member blog. Also, be aware that posting a piece of writing on any public site, including this one, will greatly diminish your chances of selling it for publication. Removing the writing later does not alter that fact - once posted, it is irreversibly considered published. So do not post anything more than a small excerpt of any piece you are planning to submit for publication. If you haven't explored the site yet, you should probably do so soon. Newcomers often gravitate to the Lounge, the Word Games, or the Review Room, but there is much more to be discovered if you poke in the corners. Remember to check out our FAQ as well, and be sure to read through the forum rules, too, to avoid any misunderstandings or hurt feelings. Respect for one another is our principal mandate. As for the Review Room, new joiners often wonder why we do things a bit differently on this site than on other writing sites. We emphasize constructive critique as a vital writing skill. Training your eye by reviewing other people's work helps you improve your own writing even before you present it for others to see. Therefore, we ask members to review other people's writing before posting work of their own. The Review Room forums on this site, therefore, are true workshops, not just a bulletin board for displaying your work (and on that note, please only post each item for review in one Review Room forum). Also, please use the same thread for all revisions and additional excerpts from the same piece of writing. See this post, Why Write Reviews Before Posting My Work? for more information. And while you're looking around, don't forget to check out the RPG forum for improvisational fiction. Also try our Weekly Short Story Contest and Weekly Poetry Contest. They actually run more than one week apiece, but any member may enter, and all members are urged to vote for their favorites. Enjoy your stay here, and have fun!
Before you can get critique, you must first give constructive critique. This is not just a quid pro quo, it is because improving your critiquing skills is the primary focus of the Review Room workshop. Improving your critiquing skills will improve your ability to find and fix weaknesses in your own writing.
Back from Hiatus So I had joined last year and had to take a break due to being flooded with work. (I am the personal assistant to a photographer.) But I think it's appropriate to reintroduce myself. My name name is Jordan and I am twenty-four years old. As previously stated, I work as a personal assistant to an upscale children's photographer. I edit photos, create slideshows, book appointments, respond to client e-mails, and am in charge of all graphic design- designing storybooks, holiday and celebratory cards, albums and image boxes. I absolutely love writing- fiction and poetry(but mostly fiction). I have been an avid writer for years, and (of course) an avid reader. I have an eclectic taste and can appreciate a variety of genres. I tend to stick with a more grungy and realistic feel when writing myself and am constantly seeking constructive criticism and critique!
